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Easy DIY Snowball Catapult: Winter STEM Activity for Toddlers

ByKate Tekurio

Give your toddlers the joy of launching their own “snowballs” and exploring basic engineering concepts with this DIY snowball catapult! My kids spent hours on this fun winter STEM activity; I hope yours will too!

Get ready to engage your toddlers with a fun winter-themed STEM activity that combines engineering, creativity, and play!

This DIY snowball catapult is an excellent way to teach basic engineering concepts while having a blast launching cotton balls across the room.

It’s simple to set up, fun to use, and perfect for indoor play during the chilly winter months.

My toddlers had a blast with this STEM activity. They want to make one all the time!

Here is how to set up your own DIY snowball catapult!

a STEM catapult made with winter colors and cottons balls

Why STEM Activities Are Important for Toddlers

Introducing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities to toddlers helps develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity.

This Winter STEM Catapult Activity is no exception. Here is why:

  • Encourages Problem-Solving: Toddlers can learn how changing the angle or force of the catapult affects how far the cotton ball travels.
  • Develops Fine Motor Skills: Building the catapult and placing cotton balls help strengthen little hands and fingers.
  • Teaches Basic Engineering Concepts: This activity introduces concepts like levers and force in a playful way.

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DIY STEM Catapult For Winter pin image

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Supplies Needed for DIY Snowball Catapult

supplies needed for STEM catapult activity

How to Make a Winter Catapult Activity

Place the plastic spoon onto one of the popsicle sticks, and secure it with two rubber bands.

adding popsicle stick to spoon

Add another popsicle stick under the popsicle stick and spoon. Secure it with another rubber band.

adding another popsicle stick and more rubber bands

Stack the remaining popsicle sticks up, then secure them with two rubber bands, one on each end.

finishing the popsicle sticks and rubber bands

Slip the stack of popsicle sticks between the other two popsicle sticks.

Add a cotton ball to the spoon and draw the spoon down, then release!

long view of DIY snowball catapult

Playful Ideas and STEM Extensions

Once the snowball catapult is assembled, here are a few fun ways to use it:

  • Distance Experimentation: Encourage toddlers to see how far they can make the cotton ball fly by adjusting the pressure on the spoon.
  • Obstacle Course: Set up cups or targets and challenge toddlers to aim their cotton balls at them. My toddlers loved trying to get their “snowballs” into a cup!
  • Counting and Measuring: Count how many launches it takes to reach a specific distance or measure how far each launch goes.
hand to push down spoon on winter catapult

Benefits of a Winter STEM Catapult Activity

This simple yet educational activity brings multiple benefits to your toddler’s development:

  • Hands-On Learning: Toddlers get to build and experiment with their own mini catapult, promoting hands-on learning.
  • Winter Fun Indoors: This activity is perfect for indoor play during the winter months and provides a seasonal twist with “snowball” cotton balls.
  • Family Time: The catapult activity is fun for parents and siblings to join in, creating shared learning experiences. I had my fair share of fun with this catapult too! It’s so fun for the entire family.

If you love making sensory bins and bottles for your toddlers, you will love all these sensory play ideas!

Final Thoughts

The Winter Snowball Catapult Activity is so much fun for your toddlers. Grab your materials and start creating one today; you won’t regret it!

Check out these other Christmas activities for toddlers:

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